Ironing press



July 17, 1934.

w. EMERY IRONING PRESS Filed Dec. 17, 1931' 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

July 17, 1934. w EMERY 1,967,082

IRONING PRESS il/m A? Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IRONING PRESS William M. Emery, Lansdowne, Pa.

Application December 17, 1331, Serial No. 581,540

25 Claims.

My invention relates to presses for smoothing or ironing fabrics and more particularly to ironing presses using two nonrevolvable pressing elements called a pressing head and a buck.

Objects of my invention are, first, to provide a completely motorized press, which will be safe.

to operate because the movable element moves toward the stationary element on a slightinoline under gravity and not under positive mechanical forces-secondly, to provide a manually operated press operable with a single handle and the movable element movable to the shoe on a slight incline under gravity thus minimizing the amount of the stroke necessary for this longer movement and conserving the majority of the stroke for the application of final pressure thirdly, to so mount the pressing head that it will normally hang horizontally face down but may be turned face up to provide for steaming velvets or cleaning the pressing head,fourthly, to provide an improved method of control,--and fifthly, to provide a press embodying a simple, cheap and efficient construction. These and other objects will be obvious from the description and specification which follows. The structure recited is subject to numerous variations without deviating from the basic principle of the invention.

In practicing my invention, I provide a buck and a pressing head movable relatively to each other, a fixed support for one of said members, a pair of pivotally supported channeled tracks, m ans for moving said tracks in a substantially arcuate path toward and away from the support,

' and a carriage movable in said tracks and supporting the other of said pressing members.

Figure l is a side view from the right hand end.

Fig. 2 is a top view with the elements and supports therefor removed or cut at H in Fig. 1 showing the cranks and controls for the power operated press.

Fig. 3 is a front View of a power operated press, parts being shown as cut away.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the gearbox which is cut horizontally through the motor and drive shaft and viewed from the bottom looking up. The large gear of the second reduction being out of the sectional plane, is shown in elevation. The clutch parts are also shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 4 the controls and housing being shown sectionally and the remainder in elevation.

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a resilient connect ing link between the gearbox crank and the presser bell-crank.

Fig. '1 is a sectional view of Fig. 8 taken on line VIIVII.

Fig. 8 is a detailed view of a resilient crank which may be utilized as either the gearbox crank or the two pressure cranks.

Fig. 9 is an end view of the pressing head in two positions, face up and face down.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 th press of my invention includes a table base 10, which may rest on any supporting means such as four legs or a complete table (not shown), a support 12 mounted thereon and supporting a padded element 13, called a buck.

A pair of slightly curved channeled tracks 14 are mounted and supported at one end by a cam plate 15 having a slot therein which has a relatively long arcuate portion and a short straight portion and roller 16, cam plate 15 being fastened to the table base 10 and the roller 16 being fastened to the tracks 14. The tracks are also operably supported at their mid-section by crank 1'7 and bell crank 18 which are-fixed to a shaft 19 which is held by bearings 21 which are integral with support 12.

In the power operated machine the motor 23, (Fig. 3) and gear reduction 24 which are integral with support 12 revolve a crank arm 25, (by means of shaft 51), which imparts a reciprocating motion to bell-crank 18 through a connecting link 26 pivotally connected thereto.

A carriage 30, formed by a pair of c shaped supports 31, moves in the slightly curved tracks 14 on three pairs of rollers 27, 28 and 29. A pressing head 33 adapted to be heated is pivotally supported at 32 from the upper end of the carriage 30.

The motor 23, not shown in detail, is of any standard type. .Referring to Fig. 4 the gear reduction 24 is a triple spur gear reduction and includes rotor shaft 40, with a pinion 41, cut therein, which meshes with spur gear 42 which revolves on stub shaft 44. Pinion 43, integral with gear 42, meshes with spur gear 45 which revolves on stubshaft 47. Pinion 46 integral with gear 45, meshes with gear 50 which is loosely mounted on shaft 51.

A clutch is provided between gear 50 and shaft 51 including ratchet teeth integral with gear 50; a pawl 57 and fingers 54, 55, and 56 forming as a unit pawl arm 53, which is pivotally mounted in arm 52 which is fixed on shaft 51. A spring 61 holds pawl 57 in normal engagement with ratchet teeth 60, but should any of the fingers 54, or 56 be obstructed, the pawl'57 is withdrawn from ratchet teeth 60 by the rotative driving forces transmitted from the motor.

An obstacle means is formed by an arm 62 which is held normally in an obstructing position by spring 'and screw 59. Arm 62 is fixed to a shaft 63 which is journaled in support 12. Shaft 63 is turned by a lever arm 64 pinned to it. A tripping device for the control of the clutch is produced as follows: Loosely journaled on shaft 63 are two arms 65 and 66. Two sockets are located in lever 64 which are normally engaged by rounded pins 67 and 68 in arms 65 and 66 respectively. Helical springs 73 and 74 acting as compression springs maintain a tension tending to resist disengagement of the rounded pins 67 and 68 from the sockets in lever 64. Springs 73 and 74 also act torsionally to tend to keep arms 64, 65 and 66 normally in the same plane so that the rounded pins 67 and 68 engage the sockets of arm 64. One end of each of said springs is anchored in its respective arm and the other end is fixed, as to the support 12.

Pivotally connected to the member 65 (see Fig. 2) is an arm 75 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3). When the carriage 30 first comes into its forward position under gravity it contacts with the arm 75 actuating arm 65 causing itto pivot on shaft 63. As explained in the preceding paragraph this operates to trip the obstacle arm 62 permitting the clutch to engage. Member 75 remains in this forward position so long as the carriage 30 remains in its forward position. The arms 65 and 75 are however an optional form of control and may be omitted. The arm 66 is operated by hand or knee or in a modified form (not shown) by the foot of the operator and controls the clutch similarly to arm 65.

To further explain the operation of this pressing and ironing machine we .will' assume a starting position such as is shown in full lines in Fig. 1. Assuming also the motor is running and the pressing elements are stationary in this position,

then the pawl finger 56 (see Fig. 5) will be obstructed by the arm 62 causing a disengagement of the clutch which permits its motor and gears to revolve independently of shaft 51. (Fig. 5 illustrates the clutch parts not in the position above described but in the engaged position immediately following it, after the obstacle 62 has been tripped permitting finger 56 to pass by it. Note the direction of rotation shown by the arrow.)

If then the operator presses arm 66 to the right with her hand or knee or other convenient agency, arms 66 and 64 are turned together until obstacle 62 reaches the limit of its stroke then a continued movement of 66 causes a disengagement of levers 64 and 66, and 64 returns to its original position automatically under the action of spring and screw 59. Arm 66 returns to its original position when released by the operator because of spring 74. Spring 74 is strong enough to cause a reengsgement of pin 68 with the socket of 64. During this period for reasons hereinafter explained 65 is not engaged with 64, but members 75 and 65 are held in a forward position by the weight of carriage 30.

When the obstacle 62 as described above was withdrawn momentarily from finger 56then finger 56 was pulled by spring 61 into the position shown in Fig. 5 causing engagement of pawl 57 and revolving ratchet 60, and causing pawl arm 53, arm 52, shaft 51 and crank 25 to revolve clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5.

As shown in Fig. 1 when crank arm 25 revolves,

link 26 pushes bell-crank 18 toward the position shown in broken lines. As bell-crank 18 and cooperating crank 17 are turned in their bearings 21, they, being pivotally connected to track 14, cause said track to swing back and upwards. The roller 16 is accordingly moved in cam plate 15 which has been shaped to maintain without variation the forward inclination of the track 14 during the turning of bell-crank 18 until the stroke of said crank is almost completed at which time roller 16 reaches the top of the curve of the slot in cam plate 15 and starts on the short horizontal distance. As the roller can no longer rise, the continuation of the turning of bell-crank 18 causes the track 14 to come to the horizontal and then incline ortip backwards into the position shown by the broken lines in Fig. 1. This causes the carriage 30 to roll under gravity so that pressing head 33 assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 uncovering the buck 13 to the operator.

When carriage 30 moves backward members 75 and 65 are released from their forward position and are returned to the position shown in Fig. 5 by spring 73 so that pin 67 engages member 64.

When bell-crank 18 has attained the position shown in Fig. 1 in broken lines the crank 25 has revolved with shaft 51 from the approximate dead' center position shown in full' lines in Fig. 1 to the approximate dead center position shown in broken lines. At this point the clutch (pawl 57 and ratchet 60) (see Fig. 5) is disengaged by obstacle 62 contacting with finger 55.

To cause the pressing head 33 to engage the buck the operator moves lever 66 to the right as shown in Fig. 3, which withdraws obstacle 62 momentarily permitting finger 55 to slip past, engaging the clutch. Obstacle 62 snaps back in place as explained previously and crank 25 and shaft 51 turn until obstacle 62 meets finger 54.

In this position bell-crank 18 has descended from the position shown in Fig. 1 by dotted lines until track 14 has assumed a forward tilt. It is possible that in many cases it would be entirely satisfactory for the clutch to continue to revolve and not be disengaged at this time if the slope was properly inclined to time the movement of the carriage 30 under gravity so that it would be in the proper position when the final pressure was applied but especially for heavier clothing I 5 have invented means to interrupt the movement of the tracks .at this pointto insure that the tracks do not descend further until the carriage has rolled to a position above the buck.

Members 65 and 75 are so'arranged that when the carriage comes into the forward position bringing the pressing head 33 above the buck 13 it contacts with '75 causing obstacle 62 to be withdrawn permitting finger 54 to slip past it. Member 75 is held in this position as long as the carriage remains forward but pin 67 becomes disengaged from arm 64 and obstacle 62 snaps back into its normal obstructing position because of the tripping device previously described. Should arms 65 and 75 be omitted the manual operation of control lever 66 will accomplish the same purpose. The crank 25 now turns until full pressure between the pressing elements is applied and the Parts again assume the positions shown by the full lines in Fig. 1. I

The positions of the fingers 54, 55 and 56 are only approximate and are given only for purposes of explanation.

When the carriage 30 first comes to the forward position rollers 27 contact with bumper strip 79 and while bell-crank 18 moves the track 14 down and forward, roller 27 continues to contact with strip 79. If strip 79 is vertical the movement of the pressing head to the buck will be vertical.

There is normally enough friction between the material being pressed and the pressing head to prevent the carriage from working backwards in the slight upward incline of the track when final pressure is applied.

In presses of this type I have found it necessary to have some form of resiliency to compensate for varying thicknesses of work and a most essential feature is to use a preloaded resiliency so that the minimum pressure may be controlled. A feature of this machine is the use of preloaded resilient cranks, levers or connecting links. Such links are shown in Figs. 6, l and 8.

Fig. 6 illustrates a link composed of a pin or eyelet 80 in a strap 81 to which is threaded a ferrule 82 which compresses a spring 83 against a shoulder 84 attached to two straps 85 which pass freely through ferrule 82 forming an eyelet or pin 86. Should forces tending to separate eyelet or pins 30 and 86 be applied to this connecting link in excess of the resisting forces inherent in the pre-compressed spring 83 then the link becomes resilient.Figs. 6 and 7 show in detail link 26.

In Figure 8 is shown a crank or compression link or eccentric arm including an eyelet or pin 90 formed in a piece 91 having shoulders 92, a longitudinal hole 93 and a slot 94. An eyelet or pin 95 formed in a piece 96 having shoulders 97 and a piston 98 moves in cylinder 93. Spring 99 is precompressed between shoulders 92 and 97 and a pin 109 is driven through piston 98 and is slidable in slot 94. Should forces tending to press pieces 91 and 96 together be applied in excess of the resistant forces in the pre-compressed spring then the link becomes resilient. In the smaller scale views of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 conventional solid cranks or links are used to illustrate crank arms 1'7, 18 and 25. It is the intention of the inventor to substitute the detailed link of Fig. 8 for one of these unless the link of Fig. 6 is substituted for link 26. The functions of the link in any of these positions are somewhat equivalent and resiliency is required in only one of the three places.

As shown in Fig. 9 the pressing head is pivotally connected to support 31 so that the face normally hanging down and in stable equilibrium may also be turned up for steaming velvets or for cleaning or use as a hot plate at which time one edge rests against support 31 effecting a stability. When hanging in the normal position the pivotal mounting equalizes the pressure from front to back of the face and buck and if as previously mentioned the link of Fig. 8 were substituted for crank 17 and bell-crank-18 then the pressure would tend to equalize end to end.

The reason for curving tracks 14 is to insure that with a very slight incline the inertia of the heavy pressing head may be quickly overcome at the beginning of the movementthe momentum being enough to complete the movement with a gradual reduction of speed and momentum.

It has been recognized continually in the development of this art that the motorizatlon of the entire movement of the elements together is very dangerous to the hands of the operator. My invention ofiers a novel solution to the problem in that the major movement of about 14 inches carrying the shoe across the buck is under gravity and not a positive mechanical movement as is the case in all other motorized presses. Should the clutch become inopportunely engaged and the pressing head move to the buck before the operator was ready, the operator could push it back again. The vertical drop is less than one inch and the operator would be suificiently warned previous to this movement for the removal of hands.

I claim:

1. In a press for fabrics, including two coopcrating pressing elements mounted for relative movement, a gravity incline, one of said elements being mounted for movement on said incline, motor means operably connected to tilt said incline to cause the approach of one element to the other and means to cause said motor means to apply final pressure between the elements.

2. In a press for fabrics two cooperating pressing elements, a guide and track, means for mounting one of said elements for movement along and with said guide and track, motor means automatically operable when one of said elements has been moved to a position above the other, to move said track bodily thereby applying pressure between the elements.

3. In a press for fabrics a pressing head adapted to be heated, a support therefor pivotally connected with said pressing head so designed and arranged to permit said pressing head to hang from said pivot in stable equilibrium with the heated face of said pressing head horizontal and to permit said pressing head to be turned on said pivot approximately one half turn to bring said pressing head face up and means to make said pressing head stable in this position.

4. In a press, two cooperating pressing elements relatively movable, a movable track, one of the elements mounted for movement along and with said track, means to limit the movement of -said track to include a forward tilting, a lowering bodily, and a raising and tilting backwards to its original position, and means to effectuate said track movements.

5. In a press for fabrics, two cooperating pressing elements at least one of which is mounted for an extensive movement of approach to the other, and for a relatively shorter movement to the other applying pressure between said elements and for a movement returning the element to its first position, power means to effectuate said movements, a single control means to efiect the initiation of each of said movements and means independent of said control means automatically operable to make the power means ineffective in advance of the initiation of each of the said three movements.

6. In a press for fabrics, two cooperating pressing elements mounted for relative movement, such movement including an extensive movement of approach of one element to the other, a relatively shorter movement of one element to the other applying pressure between said elements, and a movement returning said elements to its first position, power means to effectuate each of such movements, a single control means operably connected to effect the initiation of each movement and means to terminate each movement independently of said control means.

7. In a press for fabrics, a pressing head and a buck constituting cooperating pressing elements, means to apply and relieve pressure between the elements, means to convey substantially horizontal under gravity one of said elements relative to the other with the center of gravity of the conveyed parts falling more rapidly during the first part of the substantially horizontal conveyance than during the latter part.

5 8. In a press for fabrics, two cooperating pressing elements one of which is mounted for a substantially horizontal movement under gravity wherein the center of gravity of said element and the moving parts associated therewith have less fall during the last part of movement than the first part of said movement, means to support'and guide the movable element during this movement, means to effectuate said movement and force applying means having a mechanical advantage to apply pressure between the elements.

9. In a press for fabrics, two cooperating pressing elements, a movable track along which one of said elements is mounted for movement under gravity and a radius arm pivotally connected to said track having its fixed pivot out of the longitudinal plane of said track and guide means associated with said track to control the inclination of said track and accordingly the gravity movement. a

10. In a press for fabrics, a buck and a pressing head constituting pressing elements, means to move substantially horizontally under gravity one of said elements toward and away from the other element and means to apply pressure between the elements in excess of the weight of the moving parts.

11. In a press for fabrics, a pressing head and a buck, an incline and roller means operable therein to move the pressing head under gravity towards the buck and means to apply pressure between the elements in excess of the weight of the moving parts.

, 12. In a press, for fabrics, a pressing head and a buck constituting cooperable elements, an incline along which one element is movable under gravity towards the other and means to raise and lower said incline bodily to apply pressure between said elements and separate them.

13. In a press for fabrics a pressing head and a buck, a track to support one of said elements, means to lower and raise said track bodily to apply pressure between the elements and to separate them, roller means to mount said one of .5 said elements for an extensive movement away from the other element under gravity.

14. In a press for fabrics two cooperating pressing elements an incline designed and arranged to move one of said elements alternately .5 towards and away from the other in a plane parallel to said incline and means to shift said incline to predetermined angles of inclination to effectuate said alternate movements.

15. In a press for fabrics, two cooperating Q pressing elements, a track and means connecting said track with one of said elements for movement along said track and means to tip said track in alternate directions to effectuate movement of one of said elements towards and U away from the other under gravity.

16. In a. press for fabrics a pressing head and a buck constituting cooperating elements one of which is mounted fox-movement a'support for said movable element an inclined and curved track operably connected with said support, the inclination of said track being arranged to cause the forces of gravity to initiate and accelerate a movement 01 the movable element to the othen and the curve of said track being arranged to diminish said acceleration after the initiation of said movement.

17. In a press for fabrics a pressing head and a buck means for mounting the head for movement transversely across the buck, means to intiate and actuate said movement by a force due to stored energy and power, means to automatically apply final pressure between said elements when the first mentioned movement has been substantially completed. a

18. In a press, two cooperating pressing elements at least one of which is mounted for an extensive movement of approach to the other and for a relatively shorter movement of one element to the other applying pressure between them, and for a movement completely separating the elements, motor means to actuate said movements, clutch means associated with said motor means and means to normally cause said clutch to automatically disengage in advance of the initiation'of each of said three movements.

19. In a press for fabrics, a buck, a pressing head, means to mount the head for movement above and transversely across the buck, under force due to stored energy, means to effect the greatest resultant of said force in the direction of said movement at the beginning of said movement and means to mechanically store said, energy.

20. In a press for fabrics, two cooperating elements, means to mount said elements for relative movement one towards the other to a position one above the other, means to thereafter force the elements into pressing relationship, power means to effect the first mentioned movement, means to automatically stop the first mentioned movement slightly before the contacting of the elements and the application of pressure between the elements, thus providing a greater safety for the hands of the operator and a single 115 means, repeated movements of which by the operator control the initiation of the approaching movement of the elements described," the movement forcing them into pressing relationship and a movement restoring them to full separaon. I

21. In a press for fabrics, a buck and a pressing head constituting pressing elements, means to mount the head for a compound movement first above, transversely across the buck, to a position over the buck and thereafter downwardly against the buck, means to initiate said movement under a force due to stored energy, mechanical means to apply forces to said first mentioned means, said first mentioned means converting said applied forces into said stored energy.

22. In a press for fabrics, the combination of a buck, a pressing head, means to mount the head for movement above and transversely across the buck and under force due to stored energy, said means being conflgurated to effect a gradual deceleration in the latter part of said movement of the head, and means to apply force to said mounting means to raise the mounting means to produce said stored energy.

23. In a press for fabrics, a pressing head and a buck positioned one above the other when cooperating, a support arm for the head, a con- K tinuous track located below the buck operably connected with the said support arm to form the sole means to guide the head towards, above and transversely across the buck, means thereafter to move one of said elements into pressing contact with the other and an electric motor to furnish forces to efiect both movements.

24. In a press for fabrics, the combination of a substantially horizontal platen buck, a pressing head adapted to be heated and positioned over the buck when in cooperation therewith, and a support arm therefor hinged to an intermediate portion of said pressing head, there being sufiicient clearances to allow the pressing head either to hang from said hinge with the face of said pressing head towards the buck when the head is near to the buck or, at the will of the operator, to be turned on said hinge to bring the head substantially face up on top of the said support arm when the head is sufiiciently separated from the buck.

25. In a press for fabrics, the combination of a buck and a pressing head constituting pressing elements, means to mount the head for a compound movement, at least one portion of which movement is substantially rectilinear, said compound movement of the head being first lat erally across the buck to a position over the buck and thereafter downward to the buck applying pressure between the elements, means to eifect at least the substantially rectilinear portionof the compound movement under stored energy and means to supply and directly apply forces necessary to separate the elements and to store energy to efiect said compound movement of the head.

WILLIAM M. EMERY. 

